Rs. 2160 m for Samurdhi assistance

Uditha Kumarasinghe

COLOMBO: The Government has allocated Rs. 2,160 million to the Sri Lanka Samurdhi Authority (SLSA) to implement its proposed programmes this year.

"The major task of the Samurdhi movement this year is to bring the skills of the poor to surface by guiding them towards income generating projects," Samurdhi and Poverty Alleviation Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi told the Daily News.

According to the Minister, the SLSA will implement several development programmes during the current year to uplift the living conditions of Samurdhi beneficiary families.

Arrangements have been made to expand Gam Pubudu projects, the 10,000 dairy farmers programme, home garden project and the drug eradication programme during this year. Rs.1820 million has been allocated to implement Gam Pubudu projects by 2007, she said.

Also earmarked for implementation are 90 per cent of the Samurdhi development projects which will directly help improve the income levels of low income groups.

The responsibility of handling this year's Samurdhi development projects will be vested in the Samurdhi societies.

This is to seek the assistance of rural leaders towards the development process, the Minister said.

During 2006, the SLSA has granted credit facilities to 100,000 Samurdhi beneficiary families to economically empower them. Steps have been taken to provide financial resources and technical assistance to these families to develop their income generating avenues, she said.